hree things will always be sufficient
to defend a young man against the most wily gamesters in the world.

The case I have related, is only one among hundreds that might be
stated, in which the ruin of many a promising young man has been
accomplished, by alluring him to play cards for amusement, and then
gradually leading him on to stake first small sums, which he is
permitted to win, and then he is persuaded to go on, till he has not a
farthing left. There is a set of men, in all parts of the country, who
make a business of gambling, and league together to draw in unwary youth
and strip them of all they possess, and of more, if they can lay their
hands upon money not their own.

Beware, then, how you excite a passion for gaming, by playing for
amusement. I am afraid of _all games_; but, especially, all games of
chance. I think there is a strong tendency in them all to excite a
passion for gaming, which will not be satisfied without something more
stimulating than mere amusement. If I see a boy rolling marbles, or a
young man shuffling cards, I think he is in the high road to ruin.
Marbles is a dirty play. It treads on the heels of low company and
gambling. We frequently hear boys crying out, with all the braggardism
of a practiced gambler, "_I'll bet_" so and so. But all betting is
gambling. "TOUCH NOT, TASTE NOT, HANDLE NOT."

CHAPTER V.

INDUSTRY, LABOR, &c.

Early discipline, in laborious and useful occupations, is indispensable
to the formation of a good character. If God had designed that we should
live at ease, without exertion, he would have furnished every thing to
our hand, without any effort of our own. In his holy word he has taught
us the necessity of helping ourselves, requiring us to labor six days
for one of rest, and ordaining that, "if any would not work, neither
should he eat." The same lesson he taught an untutored Indian, by the
voice of Nature.

_A lesson from the Birds and Fishes._

Rev. Mr. Heckewelder, a Moravian Missionary, remarked to an Indian, whom
he saw busily employed fencing his cornfield, that he must be very fond
of working, as he had never seen him idling away his time as was common
with the Indians. "My friend," replied the Indian "the fishes in the
water, and the birds in the air have taught me to work. When I was a
young man, I loitered about, doing nothing, just like the other Indians,
who say that working is only for whites and negroes, but that the
Indians were